Temples of South India Page 2 of 15 TRIP SUMMARY Arrive Chennai Arrival Transfer Chennai Sightseeing Lunch during sightseeing Dinner options Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (120kms/ 3hrs approx) Kanchipuram Sightseeing Lonch Optional Dinner options Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100kms/ 2hrs approx) Mahabalipuram Sightseeing Lunch during sightseeing Dinner options Pondicherry - Thanjore (170kms/ 4hrs approx) Pondicherry Sightseeing Lunch during sightseeing Chidambaram Sightseeing Dinner options Thanjore - Trichy (60kms/ 1.5hrs approx) Thanjore Sightseeing Lonch Optional Trichy Sightseeing Dinner options Trichy - Madurai (140kms/ 3hrs approx) Lonch Optional Madurai Sightseeing Dinner options Page 3 of 15 Madurai - Periyar (Thekkady) (160kms/ 3hrs approx) Page 4 of 15 ARRIVE CHENNAI Arrival Transfer On arrive at airport meet with our office representative assistance and transfer to hotel. (Hotel check in out time 1200hrs afternoon early check in subject to rooms availability) Chennai Sightseeing Visit the San Thome Cathederal, built on the site of a 16th century Portuguese basilica which is said to be the tomb of the apostle Thomas, who is reputed to have brought Christianity to India in the 1st century AD. The tour also includes St Thomas Mount, the Little Mount Shrine, the Fort St George, St Mary's Church, and the Fort Museum which has a collection of objects from the tenure of the East India Company in Chennai including letters from Robert Clive. The Marina Beach is the second longest in the world. Walk along the surf-kissed edge, coast along the Drive, relax in your shorts, take the kids to the aquarium, sip coconut water, but worshippers of the sun, beware! You’ll offend everyone if you bring out your bikini. Rumours of sharks and sharp eddies keep all but the bravest away. The academy of classical dance and music, Kalakshetra or 'Temple of Art’ is in Thiruvanmayur. Run on the ancient lines of gurukul education, it frequently presents recitals of classical music and Bharatnatyam in town. The Government Museum and Art Gallery has objects of art, sculptures and carvings from the Chola, Pandya, Pallava, and the Vijayanagar periods. Overnight at hotel. Page 5 of 15 Lunch during sightseeing Lunch during the tour at your choice of restaurant on direct payment basis. Our guide can suggest the restaurant of your choice meal and within your budget. Dinner options Dinner at your choice of restaurant or at your hotel on direct payment basis. Overnight at hotel. CHENNAI - KANCHIPURAM - MAHABALIPURAM (120KMS/ 3HRS APPROX) Breakfast at hotel, sightseeing of Chennai if not done on day 01. Later drive to Mahabalipuram en route visit Kanchipuram Temples. Kanchipuram Sightseeing Kanchipuram the City of Thousand Temples and The Silk City. It is also called as “Silk City” as silk saris are being manufactured here. Kanchipuram is known for its Page 6 of 15 culture and civilization. Visit Kailasanathar temple: It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, dates back to 8th century. This temple is noted for its architecture and sculptures. There are 58 small shrines situated around the main shrine as compound wall. Sandstone was used in the construction of this temple. Ekambareswarar temple: This temple represents one of the five elements called Earth (Prithvi). Another ancient temple of the city dedicated to Siva. The 2500-year-old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yields different varieties of mangoes. Varadharaja temple - This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is noted for its wonderful sculptures. This is one of the 108 sacred Shri Vaishnavite temples. Vaikundhaperumal temple: It is dedicated to lord Vishnu. It is also one of the 108 Divyadesams. Kamakshiamman temple: It is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi – the presiding deity. It is one of the holy Sakthi worship places in India. It is closely associated with Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Handloom industry: Kanchipuram is also famous for handloom Silk Sarees. The main profession of people in Kanchipuram is weaving silk sarees. Lonch Optional Lunch at hotel after check in or at your choice restaurant during sightseeing. Our guide can suggest the restaurant of your choice meal and within your budget. Dinner options Dinner at your choice of restaurant or at your hotel on direct payment basis. Overnight at hotel. MAHABALIPURAM - PONDICHERRY (100KMS/ 2HRS APPROX) Page 7 of 15 MAHABALIPURAM - PONDICHERRY (100KMS/ 2HRS APPROX) Breakfast at hotel. Mahabalipuram Sightseeing Visit the Cave Temples: which excavated by scooping out the scarp of the hill. The scooping work starts from front to back. The cave temple is usually divided into inner & outer mandapas, distinguished by the difference in levels. The front mandapa will have pillars & plasters numbering 4,6,8,10. The inner mandapa contains single, triple or five cells. The cave temple with little modification is categorized as Mamalla style. The pillars under this style are slender & taller with squatting lion at their base. The pillar is divided into distinct parts known as kalasa, tadi, kumba, padma etc. Monolithic Temples: are locally known as Rathas. They were executed by chiseling out the exterior face of the boulder. Work started from top to bottom. The pyramidal vimana with sikhara at the top is an important feature of this style. It can be rightly said that these monolithic temples must have paved the way for the structural temples with elaborate architectural & sculptural details in the subsequent stage. There a total number of 8 monolithic temples found in Mamallapuram. The five rathas in one place, Ganesha Ratha, Valayankuttai Ratha & Pidari Rathas. Shore Temple: The Shore Temple on the Bay of Bengal was constructed in the 7th century during the rule of King Narsimha-Varman II Rajasimha (c. 690-728).The Shore temples is a temple complex consisting of two Siva temples and a carving of Anantasayana Vishnu. The temple facing east is entered by a small gopura. On plan, it consists of a small sanctum & a front mandapa & is a two-tired vimana. The sanctum is housing a linga. The Somaskanda panel consisting of Siva & Parvati with baby Skanda is on the back wall of the sanctum. The dhara linga & Somaskanda panel on the back wall of the sanctum are the features of the Pallava temples only. Page 8 of 15 Lunch during sightseeing Lunch during the tour at your choice of restaurant on direct payment basis. Our guide can suggest the restaurant of your choice meal and within your budget. Later drive to Pondicherry check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel. Dinner options Dinner at your choice of restaurant or at your hotel on direct payment basis. Overnight at hotel. PONDICHERRY - THANJORE (170KMS/ 4HRS APPROX) Breakfast at hotel sightseeing of Pondicherry. Pondicherry Sightseeing Visit Shree Aurobindo and The Mother, his most eminent disciple, set up the Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville in 1926. Together they explored the possibilities of yoga and meditation as a path to salvation. At the Ashram residents continue to Page 9 of 15 practice their teachings and run a lot of the cultural activity in Pondicherry. There is an educational centre, which occasionally hosts lectures, screens films and holds play performances. The sun, surf and sand are best at the beaches a little outside town. Called Serenity, Quiet and Reppo they manage to live up to their name. The town beach has a 4-meter high statue of Mahatma Gandhi and French World War I memorial. There is a 150-year-old lighthouse also. The French Institute is in a stylish colonial building. It has some remarkable old French books that are very rare. The Romain Rolland library has over 60,000 volumes and overlooks the sea. Along with the ‘kepis’ capped cops and its streets being called ‘rue’, it is the churches that help the town retain its European charm. Thechurch of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception or Notre Dame de la Conception is almost 300 years old. The church to Our Lady of Angels is famous for an oil painting that was gifted by Napoleon III. The most magnificent however is the grand gothic Sacred Heart Church with 3 stained glass panels of the life of Christ. Just outside town is a copy of the Basilica at Lourdes. Many temples around Pondicherry are dedicated to Ganesh, the half man half pachyderm god who is the Destroyer of all Obstacles. The oldest ones date back to the 10th century Chola Empire. The Vinaynagar Manakula temple has a golden dome and a collection of 40 beautiful friezes. Lunch during sightseeing Lunch during the tour at your choice of restaurant on direct payment basis. Our guide can suggest the restaurant of your choice meal and within your budget. Drive to Thanjore en route visit Chidambaram. Page 10 of 15 Chidambaram Sightseeing Visit Nataraja Temple which is dedicated to the Nataraja or the dancing posture of Lord Shiva. This temple is located in the heart of the town and has undergone numerous renovations under the reign of Chola and Pallava kings. In 1213 AD, Aragalur Udaya Iraratevan Ponparappinan rebuilt some of the parts of this temple. The Nataraja Temple is known for its attractive gopurams, carvings, five mandapams and inscriptions. Built during the 10th century by Chola Kings, this temple is known for huge walls, four tall shikharas in four directions and a big Sivagangai tank. The four tall shikharas are decorated with 108 carved dance postures of Natya Shastra. On arrival check in at hotel. Dinner options Dinner at your choice of restaurant or at your hotel on direct payment basis. Overnight at hotel. THANJORE - TRICHY (60KMS/ 1.5HRS APPROX) Page 11 of 15 Breakfast at hotel Thanjore Sightseeing Visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Fort: built by great Chola king in the 10th century it is an outstanding example of Chola architecture and is listed in world heritage.